Does a cockatiel get lonely if left alone for a few hours a day?
broo...@gmail.com
about three months now. It's been said that one should not get a
cockatiel unless you are able to give it the companionship that it
needs.
Through the three months we've had our bird, I'd say that my wife has
done an exemplary job at being around for the cockatiel, researching
on how to care for it, and being with it for almost the entire day
while I'm at work. In the evenings when I'm home we eat our dinners
with the bird at the table, play with it in the living room, pet it
almost all the time (it loves it), and generally keep it company
wherever we are, and cleaning up the poop.
But it's come to the point now where my wife says she can't leave the
pet alone in the room without hearing our bird call for her, or sing
and screech. (The bird is less likely to be so noisy if one of us is
in the same room with it. ) And now, she's starting to feel trapped in
our home, fearing to leave the bird alone during the day as it may get
lonely.
I'm of the opinion that it's okay to leave the bird alone for as long
as 4 hours a day during the day, maybe more, but she thinks that that
would be cruel to leave the bird alone. When we go out to run errands
or try to enjoy the weather outside, we often come home to an
initially quiet bird that squeaks excitedly when she hears the door
opening, and my wife feels bad that we left it feeling so lonely.
So, I'm wondering if leaving the bird alone during the afternoons is
at all bad for the bird. I mean, how do other cockatiel owners handle
a life outside caring for the bird? We'd like to get a companion bird
to keep our cockatiel company, but not being ready for that expense
just yet for another month or so, I'd like to know if leaving the bird
alone for 4-8 hours during the day is bad for the bird.
Thanks,
-A.
Steve Snelgrove, Cardiff, Wales, UK
news:1181928226.3...@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
Hello Broohaha
IMHO, the answer to your question is an unreserved yes, cockatiels do suffer
when left alone. They're flock animals and get safety and security from
being part of the flock. Without the company of their own kind, you become
the flock, so when you're not there, they are, effectively, abandonned.
Think of what that means to a prey animal. Alone equals easy prey equals
dead. No wonder s/he shouts for you to come back when you leave the room,
it's hard-wired with the knowledge that on its own it's in danger.
We had the same dilemma with our first bird so we got a second (see my
previous posts). She's happier, but she's not dependent on us in that same
way any more so she isn't a pet in the same way. So we make the decision as
to whether we should meet their basic need for company at the expense of our
desire for a dependent pet. Lose/lose.
Hey ho.
--
WolfWilf
Cardiff, UK
kitekrazy
@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com:
> I'd like to know if leaving the bird
> alone for 4-8 hours during the day is bad for the bird.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -A.
>
I haven't had that problem. Either the bird or I need to work to pay rent.
It looks like that's up to me to work. I have toys in the cage to keep him
occupied. They only time I've seen him play with them is when he thinks I'm
not around.
I've had to leave him alone before for 2-3 days. He seems OK.
LT
It's OK to leave him alone during the day. My tiel gets plenty of
attention whenever someone is home anyway. A few hours a day won't hurt.
He usually keeps himself occupied when no one is home. The squeaking
excitedly usually just means he's happy his *flock* is home. I go
through the same thing :-)
Piezo Guru
<broo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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KristleBawl
of the time, and my roommate is retired.
Our little Tiel is out of the cage for up to 4 hours at a time, twice a day.
She (or he?) is covered at bedtime, around 9pm, and my roommate usually
uncovers her in the morning, about 7-8am, and eats breakfast beside the
cage. When I wake up, the cage is opened and she flies to my room.
If my roommate is not home and I am the one to uncover the cage in the
morning, the baby flies all over, in every room, searching, and I have to
call her back to me, over and over, about every 15 to 20 minutes or so,
until the other member of our flock gets home. :)
When I have a doctor appointment, she is left in the cage, chirping, but not
exactly screeching, until we leave, but as soon as we get home, I see that
she's perched in her favorite night time sleeping spot. I start talking to
her right away and let her out to fly, but she tends to stay on my arm or
shoulder for up to an hour, just preening, instead, as if she missed me and
doesn't want to let go.
Based on my experience and observations, I believe it's really a matter of
what your bird considers normal daily routine. Leaving it caged while
running errands for a few hours will not harm the bird, and it might even be
a good idea to get him/her used to being left alone a few times a week.
Keep in mind, a bird is like a child, it will learn and adjust to being
alone part of the day, even though it needs and craves lots of attention.
"Piezo Guru" wrote in message
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> How would anybody really know?
>
> <broo...@gmail.com> wrote in message ...
LT
> How would anybody really know?
>
We don't know, really. I assume they get used to it and adjust.
It gives me an idea. Out of curiosity I should set up a video camera
just to see what he does all day. I bet he does the same thing, eats,
preens, and whistles like as if someone was there the whole time.
LT
I agree. I'm assuming they adjust to it.
Piezo Guru
tyke?
"LT" <where...@dontknow.com> wrote in message
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Piezo Guru
"LT" <where...@dontknow.com> wrote in message
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--
LT
> Will you require a legal permit to electronically monitor the little
> tyke?
>
It's all legal - no permit.
KristleBawl
over time they get used to the idea that 'mommy will be back for me soon'.
Tiels just don't grow up into the comprehension stage, so you can't sit them
down and explain 'how long is 2 or 3 hours' like you can with older
children.
"Piezo Guru" wrote in message
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> There is always a limit too.
>
> "LT" wrote in message ...
Piezo Guru
It figures you would say something like that. You know ...."birds of a
feather"
thing? **SIGH** but then that a different tail.
Sorry 'bout the humour...I am just winging it tonight and beaking off
a bit.
LOL
"LT" <where...@dontknow.com> wrote in message
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--
LT
> The law always was a bird brain (sorry 'tiels).
>
> It figures you would say something like that. You know ...."birds of a
> feather"
> thing? **SIGH** but then that a different tail.
>
> Sorry 'bout the humour...I am just winging it tonight and beaking off
> a bit.
>
> LOL
>
LMAO!
ShellStockTrader
<broo...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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